Our objective is to examine the role of planning skills for translating intentions into physical activity via planning cognitions. A study with 534 adolescents was conducted. Over 4 weeks, intention, planning cognitions (prospective anticipation of when, where, and how to perform activities), planning skills (successful past planning experiences), and physical activity were assessed.

The results were that skills correlated with intention, planning cognitions, and subsequent physical activity. Planning cognitions were found to mediate the intention-behavior relation, whereas skills moderated the mediating role of planning cognitions: If students reported high skills, they were more likely to translate their intentions into plans and behavior.

We conclude that having more skills makes it more likely that adolescents successfully translate their intentions into plans. Promotion of physical activity should improve planning cognitions but also planning skills. Only with planning cognitions and skills might adolescents better be able to act in accordance with their intentions and perform physical activity.